News

Take a trip back in time on GWR this weekend

VISITORS to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway this weekend will be transported back 75 years in time.

Following the success of last year's inaugural ‘War in the Cotswolds’, the two-day event is making a welcome return tomorrow with a wealth of attractions.

There will be vehicles including a tractors and other farm machinery that would be familiar to the 'Land Girls', military vehicles and steam-hauled trains.

At Toddington station tomorrow, among the vehicles will be a genuine Sherman tank while on Sunday afternoon, an RAF Spitfire fly past.

There will be British and American troops, tented encampments, civvies in 1940s clothing and music from a big band or forces sweetheart Vera Lynn, Count Blasie and The Andrews Sisters.

At Gotherington, Winchcombe and Toddington stations there will be live music, Morris dancers, singers and musicians and even a poet on the trains bringing the wartime experience to life.

There will be a farm display and at Winchcombe the chance to find out how we protected ourselves during air raids while an RAF plotting room can be visited at Toddington.

David Miles, a member of the team organising the event, said: "This is the 'real deal' and not to be missed. "It's a lighter look at wartime life when camaraderie played such an enormous part in keeping families' spirits up at a time when there was a good chance that many of their 'menfolk' might not return.

"But fear not - the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is well protected - with both a Sherman tank and an RAF Spitfire - so you may be sure that you and everyone will be safe from enemy action.

"So pop along to soak up the atmosphere, or even dig out your glad-rags or your grand-dad's uniform and enter into the spirit of the occasion.

"This is really a rather special event in the railway's busy calendar, which was staged for the first time last year.